Staff writer
The matchup Friday night between the Hillsboro and Marion girls’ basketball teams began evenly but changed midway through the first quarter.
Tied at six with three minutes left in the quarter, the Trojans scored 10 consecutive points to take a 16-6 lead into the second quarter.
As the game progressed, the Warriors struggled to handle Hillsboro’s pressure defense, turning the ball over 30 times.
The Trojans increased their lead by 13 in the second period, going on an 11-2 run led by a short jumper and 3-pointer by Addie Lackey. Marion scored five points to end the first half, highlighted by a buzzer-beating 3 from Megan Richmond. Hillsboro led 36-13.
The Trojans began the third quarter much like the second, scoring nine unanswered points before Kelli Hess made a midrange jump shot for Marion. Katey Ehrlich scored twice more for the Warriors, who went into the final period down 46-19.
Marion outscored the Trojans 10-9 in the fourth quarter, but the game was well out of reach, ending 55-29.
Ehrlich tied with Lackey for a game-high 18 points, but the rest of the Warriors struggled, combining for 9. Alex Ratzlaff added 17 for the Trojans, as well as 14 by Danae Bina.
Statistics
Marion — K. Ehrlich, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Kirsten Hansen, 2 points, 3 assists, 3 steals; Marshelle Mermis, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Bailey Robson, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; Julia Hall, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals; K. Hess, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; M. Richmond, 3 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; Kaelyn Thierolf, 2 points, 1 rebound; Kristen Herzet, 1 rebound.
Hillsboro — Courtney Troyer, 2 rebounds; A. Lackey, 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals; A. Ratzlaff, 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 6 steals; Callie Linnens, 2 rebounds, 1 block; Allison Weber, 3 rebounds; D. Bina, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals; Darcy Heinrichs, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal; Tara Proffitt, 2 points, 1 steal; Marah Franz, 1 steal; Rebecca Kaufman, 1 block; Maddi Duerksen, 2 points, 2 steals.